WWF reports 73% average decline in monitored wildlife populations since 1970
publishers 27articles 28first reported 7 Oct, 23:01 UTCdeveloping since 8 Oct · 8 editions
The average size of monitored vertebrate populations fell 73% between 1970 and 2022, according to WWF’s 2026 Living Planet Report, which also says sustained conservation efforts have helped some species recover.
The Living Planet Index, produced by the Zoological Society of London, tracks changes in the relative abundance of wildlife populations rather than the total number of animals or populations lost. Its latest assessment covers 35,803 population trends among 5,790 species of mammals, fish, birds and amphibians.
Freshwater populations recorded the steepest average decline, at 85%, followed by terrestrial populations at 69% and marine populations at 59%. Latin America and the Caribbean experienced a 95% decline, while Africa’s monitored populations declined 80%. WWF identified habitat loss and degradation, overexploitation, climate change, pollution, invasive species and disease as major pressures.
The report described food production and consumption as the largest driver of biodiversity loss, citing agriculture’s role in habitat destruction, overharvesting and greenhouse gas emissions. It called for changes to food, energy and financial systems.
Despite the overall decline, WWF said half of the populations in the index were stable or increasing. The report highlighted recoveries among green turtles, bluefin tuna, tigers and southern African elephants. Global wild tiger numbers rose from about 3,200 in 2010 to around 5,700 in 2025, while mountain gorilla numbers have climbed to more than 1,100 after decades of protection and community involvement in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 3 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 30 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 27
- Source articles
- 28
- Given to the writer
- 8, 3 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 30 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →